A GRANDMOTHER is planning to dive thousands of feet through the sky to celebrate her 88th birthday.

Mary Briggs, 87, from Broadstone, who measures just 4ft 9 inches, is taking on the 10,000ft tandem skydive challenge for Julia's House children's hospice in Corfe Mullen, which helps life-limited children and their families.

The event takes place on Friday, September 2, just three days after Mary's birthday on August 30 and she has already exceeded her £1,000 fundraising target. She said: "I read about a man who is 100 and he did a skydive, so I thought 'Why shouldn't I?'

"Rather optimistically, I said that I'd to raise £1,000, but I have somehow already done that. I have had two donations of £100 and two donations of £50. I must say that people have been very generous, including the Broadstone Choir, which I used to go to, as well as friends and family."

She said that she has never had a fear of heights and has travelled in a plane so she is just hoping to make it safely back to the ground at the Old Sarum in Salisbury.

"I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't have seen it. It's only because my family have been doing it that I am.

"My grandson, Oliver, started it when he did a skydive for his 18th birthday and he said that it was amazing. Then my daughter, Jenny, who is coming up to 60 said that she wanted to do one, so we went to watch her. It was a lovely day and you watched them come floating down. Rather foolishly I said 'I think I could do that.'

"When we got home, my daughter, Carrie, said that if I was going to do it, I should get sponsored for a charity."

Mary said that she was impressed by how much effort the staff at Julia's House children's hospice have put into making the building look welcoming for those children and young people who need their help, as well as their parents and siblings.

"Julia's House is just down the road and they look after sick children and their families. I've heard of them but had never been to look but they have open days where the public can go and see what it's like. It's a very special place."

For more information, http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/marybriggs